The Truth About Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR)
Scroll Down for a list of Advocates
Opponents of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) use a variety of methods to block ESCR. These include misconceptions, half truths, and outright lies.
The first lie is that adult stem cell (ASC) research is just as promising as ESCR. This is not true now and probably will never be true. Adult stem cells are multipotent, able to develop into only the specialized cells of the tissue where they are found, such as a blood stem cell turning into blood cells. a liver stem cell turning into a liver cell. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are pluripotent, able to develop into any type of cell in the body such as heart cells, brain cells, nerve cells, skin cells, etc. Scientists are working on ways to make adult stem cells pluripotent, to be as useful as ESC, a process that may take years or may not be possible at all.
The second is a half truth that there are now many therapies using adult stem cells (ASCs) and none using ESCs. Yes, currently there are treatments using ASC, but those treatments are limited to the use of multipotent blood stem cells to treat certain types of leukemia, blood cell cancers, and some immune deficiency disorders. Blood stem cells were first differentiated in the 1950’s and their medical use was not established until the late 1970s, after many years of research. Embryonic stem cells were first differentiated in 1998 and research on them has been blocked or poorly funded. Considering the 40 plus year head start, comparing the two in terms of currently available treatments is illogical and, worse, misleading. However ESC were injected into a paralyzed lab rat which was then able to walk in one recent experiment. This is something that has not been done using adult stems cells, in spite of their almost 50 year head start.
The third is a misunderstanding that the use of ESC destroys a human life. Not a single embryo would be “saved” by blocking ESC research. ESC research uses a very early embryo, a small ball of a few cells, smaller than a period on a page. These embryos are excess embryos, left over from IVF procedures. They are frozen and slated to be discarded. They are not in a womb, and will never be a child. These cells are undifferentiated, that is they have not developed into specific tissue types. The real moral question is whether it is better to simply destroy these early embryos or to use them to create potential cures that could end the suffering of millions of children and adults?
Finally there is the claim that ESCR offers "false hope" to sufferers of diseases, due to the "lack of progress" and time that it may take for any treatments from ESCR to become available. The following list of 500 patient advocacy groups, health organizations, research universities, scientific societies, religious groups and other interested institutions and associations proves that the "jury is not out" on the promise of ESCR but the verdict is in and the result is nearly unanimous.
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Advocates
January 9, 2007
The United States Senate Members
The US House of Representatives
Dear Members of Congress:
We, the undersigned patient advocacy groups, health organizations, research universities, scientific societies, religious groups and other interested institutions and associations, representing millions of patients, scientists, healthcare providers and advocates, write you with our strong and unified support for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 3 and S. 5.) We urge expedited passage and enactment of this legislation when the bills come before each chamber in the 110 th Congress.
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act will move stem cell research forward in our country. The bill holds promise for expanding medical breakthroughs, and hope for millions of patients and their loved ones. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act is pro-patient and pro-research. A vote for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act will be considered support of more than 100 million patients in the U.S. and substantial progress for research. Please work to enact this legislation immediately and thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
AAALAC International
AARP
Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis
Adams County Economic Development, Inc.
AdvaMed
Affymetrix, Inc.
Albert Einstein School of Medicine
Allen Institute for Brain Science
Alliance for Aging Research
Alliance for Lupus Research
Alnylam US, Inc.
Alpha-1 Foundation
ALS Association
Ambulatory Pediatric Association
America on the Move Foundation
American Academy of Nursing
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for Dental Research
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Anatomists
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Public Health Dentistry
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
American Brain Coalition
American Chemical Society
American Chronic Pain Association
American College of Cardiology
American College of Medical Genetics
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Surgeons
American Dental Association
American Dental Education Association
American Diabetes Association
American Federation for Aging Research
American Gastroenterological Association
American Geriatrics Society
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
American Institute for Stuttering
American Medical Association
American Medical Informatics Association
American Pain Foundation
American Parkinson’s Disease Association (Arizona Chapter)
American Pediatric Society
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Physiological Society
American Public Health Association
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
American Society for Cell Biology
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Neural Transplantation and Repair
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Human Genetics
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
American Sociological Association
American Thoracic Society
American Thyroid Association
American Transplant Foundation
Americans for Medical Progress
amFAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
APBD Research Foundation
Arc of the United States
Arizona State University College of Nursing
Arthritis Foundation
Arthritis Foundation, Rocky Mountain Chapter
Association for Clinical Research Training
Association for Prevention Teaching and Research
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Association of Academic Health Centers
Association of Academic Physiatrists
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of American Physicians
Association of American Universities
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Chairpersons
Association of Anesthesiology Program Directors
Association of Black Cardiologists
Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology
Association of Independent Research Institutes
Association of Medical School Microbiology and Immunology Chairs
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association of Medical School Pharmacology Chairs
Association of Minority Health Professions Schools
Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics
Association of Professors of Medicine
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
Assurant Health
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Athena Diagnostics
Aurora Economic Development Council
Axion Research Foundation
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Biophysical Society
Biotechnology Industry Organization
BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Inc.
B’nai B’rith International
Boston University School of Medicine
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Broadened Horizons
Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Brown University
Buck Institute for Age Research
Burns & Allen Research Institute
Burrill & Company
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
California Biomedical Research Association
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
California Institute of Technology
Californians for Cures
Cancer Care
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
CADASIL Together We Have Hope
Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
Cardiovascular Research Foundation
Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Center for Inquiry
Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation
Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy
Center for the Advancement of Health
CFIDS Association of America
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Charles River Laboratories
Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
Children’s Hospital Boston
Children’s Memorial Research Center
Children’s Neurobiological Solutions Foundation
Children’s Research Institute (Columbus)
Children’s Research Institute (Washington)
Christopher Reeve Foundation
City and County of Denver
City of Commerce City , CO
City of Hope National Medical Center
City of Westminster , CO
Clinical Research Forum
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, University of Colorado System
Colfax Marathon Partnership, Inc.
Colorado Bioscience Association
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Columbia University
Community Health Partnership
Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals
Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc.
Coriell Institute for Medical Research
Cornell University
Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS)
Critical Path Institute (C-Path)
CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy)
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
CuresNow
Cure Paralysis Now
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dartmouth Medical School
DENTSPLY International
Digene Corporation
Disciples For Choice
Disciples Justice Action Network
Discovery Partners International
Doheny Eye Institute
Drexel University College of Medicine
Drexel University School of Public Health
Duke University Medical Center
East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
Eli Lilly and Company
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University School of Medicine
The Episcopal Church
Equal Partners in Faith
Endocrine Society
The FAIR Foundation
FasterCures
FD Hope Foundation
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc.
Food Allergy Project, Inc.
Ford Finance, Inc.
Forsyth Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Friends of Cancer Research
Friends of the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research
Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research
Friends of the National Library of Medicine
Genetic Alliance
Genetics Policy Institute
George Mason University
Gilda's Club Worldwide
GlaxoSmithKline
Guillain Barre Syndrome Foundation International
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
Hadassah
Harvard University
Hereditary Disease Foundation
HHT Foundation International, Inc.
Home Safety Council
Howard University College of Dentistry
Howard University College of Medicine
IBM Life Sciences Division
Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing
ImmunoGen, Inc.
Indiana University
Indiana University School of Medicine
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Institute for Systems Biology
Intercultural Cancer Council Caucus
International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery (IFADD)
International Longevity Center – USA
International Myeloma Foundation
International Society for Stem Cell Research
Invitrogen Corporation
Iraq Veterans for a Cure
Iron Disorders Institute
The J. David Gladstone Institutes
Jefferson Economic Council
Jeffrey Modell Foundation
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Women International
Johns Hopkins Institutions
Johnson & Johnson
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology
KID Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society
Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Louisiana State University HSC School of Dentistry
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
Lung Cancer Alliance
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
Lupus Research Institute
Lymphatic Research Foundation
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Malecare Prostate Cancer Support
Marine Biological Laboratory
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MaxCyte, Inc.
Mayo Clinic
McLaughlin Research Institute
Medical College of Georgia
The Medical Foundation, Inc.
Medical University of South Carolina
MedStar Research Institute (MRI)
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memory Pharmaceuticals
Mercer University
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Miami Children’s Hospital
Morehouse School of Medicine
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
National Alliance for Hispanic Health
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Alopecia Areata Foundation
National Association for Biomedical Research
National Association of State and Land Grant Colleges
National Caucus of Basic Biomedical Science Chairs
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
National Council of Jewish Women
National Coalition for Cancer Research
National Council on Spinal Cord Injury
National Down Syndrome Society
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Emphysema/COPD Association
National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias
National Health Council
National Hispanic Health Foundation
National Hemophilia Foundation
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
National Marfan Foundation
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Osteoporosis Foundation
National Partnership for Women and Families
National Pharmaceutical Council
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
National Quality Forum
National Venture Capital Association
Nebraskans for Research
Nemours
New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research
New Jersey Dental School
New York Blood Center
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York Stem Cell Foundation
New York University College of Dentistry
New York University Medical Center
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
Northwest Association for Biomedical Research
Northwestern University
Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Ohio State University
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oral Health America
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing
Oregon Research Institute
Oxford Bioscience Partners
Pacific Health Research Institute
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Parkinson’s Action Network
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
Partnership for Prevention
Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Pittsburgh Development Center
PRIM&R, Public Responsiblity in Medicine & Research
Project A.L.S.
Prostate Cancer Foundation
Quest for the Cure
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Research!America
Research for Cure
Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc
Resolve: The National Infertility Association
RetireSafe
Rett Syndrome Research Foundation
Rice University
The Rockefeller University
Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Rutgers University
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
sanofi-aventis
Sarcoma Foundation of America
The Schepens Eye Research Institute
The Scientist
Scleroderma Research Foundation
The Scripps Research Institute
Secular Coalition for America
Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, Inc.
S.L.E. Lupus Foundation
Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR)
Society for Neuroscience
Society for Pediatric Research
Society for Women’s Health Research
Society of Academic Anesthesiology Chairs
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists
The Society for Investigative Dermatology
South Alabama Medical Science Foundation
South Dakota State University
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
SPARC, The Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition
Spina Bifida Association of America
The Spiral Foundation
Stamford Hospital
Stanford University
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine at
Brooklyn
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Stem Cell Research Foundation
Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation
Stem Cell Action Network
Stony Brook University
Strategic Health Policy International, Inc.
Student Society for Stem Cell Research
Suicide Prevention Action Network-USA (SPAN)
Take Charge! Cure Parkinson’s, Inc.
Temple University School of Dentistry
Texans for the Advancement of Medical Research
Texas A&M University Health Science Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Tourette Syndrome Association
Travis Roy Foundation
Tufts University
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
Union of Concerned Scientists
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis
United Church of Christ
United Spinal Foundation
University at Buffalo; State University of New York
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health
University of Arizona College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of California , Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine/Health Sciences
University of California, San Francisco
University of California System
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
University of Colorado System
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
University of Florida
University of Florida College of Dentistry
University of Georgia
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kansas Medical Center
University of Kansas Medical Center School of Nursing
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
University of Louisville
University of Louisville School of Dentistry
University of Maryland at Baltimore
University of Maryland at Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Nursing
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
University of Michigan Medical School
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
University of Michigan School of Nursing
University of Michigan School of Public Health
University of Minnesota
University of Mississippi Medical Center
University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry
University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry
University of Montana School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of North Dakota
University of North Texas Health Science Center
University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
University of Rochester Medical Center
University of South Carolina Office of Research and Health Sciences
University of South Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
University of South Florida
University of South Florida College of Nursing
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
University of Tennessee HSC College of Nursing
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
University of Toledo Academic Health Science Center
University of Utah HSC School of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin System
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Us Too International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network
Van Andel Research Institute
Vanderbilt University and Medical Center
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Washington University in St. Louis
West Virginia University Health Sciences Center
West Virginia University School of Dentistry
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
WiCell Research Institution
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Wisconsin Association for Biomedical Research and Education
Woodruff Health Sciences Center at Emory University
X PRIZE Foundation Inc.
Yale University School of Medicine
Yale University School of Nursing
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization